Final answer:
The process being described is phagocytosis, where immune cells like neutrophils engulf and destroy pathogens by forming a phagosome that fuses with a lysosome, creating a phagolysosome for digestion, and concluding with exocytosis of the remnants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Phagocytosis
The process of engulfing and killing cells through receptor binding and internalization is known as phagocytosis. This is primarily carried out by certain cells in the immune system like white blood cells, particularly neutrophils and dendritic cells. When these cells encounter pathogens such as bacteria, they extend their plasma membrane to surround the pathogen, forming a phagosome.
This phagosome then fuses with a lysosome to become a phagolysosome, where enzymes and acids digest the pathogen. After the pathogen is killed and broken down, the remains are expelled from the cell through exocytosis.
However, certain bacteria have evolved strategies to evade this fate. For example, some can escape the phagosome before it fuses with the lysosome, while others prevent this fusion altogether, allowing them to survive within the phagosome. These immune evasion strategies are noteworthy as they can lead to persistent infections.
THe complete question is: What is the process of engulfing and killing cells through receptor binding and internalization? is: